Deaf, Partially Blind Dog Helps Rescue 3-Year-Old Missing Girl

Max, a partially blind dog who is also deaf, stayed with a 3-year-old missing girl named Aurora, and later led rescuers to her after she spent close to 15 hours in the Australian bushland.

On Friday afternoon, Aurora wandered off on her own from her family's property and went missing for the entire night. By Saturday morning, there were about 100 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers, police and members of the public that had joined the search for the missing girl, according to ABC News.

"The area around the house is quite mountainous and is very inhospitable terrain to go walking in, so she'd traveled quite a distance with her dog that was quite loyal to her," SES area controller Ian Phipps told ABC News.

Aurora's grandmother, Leisa Bennet, heard her granddaughter respond to her shouting early Saturday morning. "When I heard her yell 'Grammy' I knew it was her," Bennet told ABC News.

The grandmother followed the voice, which led her to their loyal family dog, Max. He guided them to the top of the mountain where Aurora was found safe.

Phipps described the search to ABC News as being difficult. "The search was actually quite hard where the volunteers and the police were, amongst the very steep slopes full of lantana and other vegetation," he said.

Aurora only suffered minor cuts and abrasions. "With the weather last night, it's quite lucky she is well because it was cold; it was cold and raining," Phipps told ABC news.

"It could have gone any of 100 ways, but she's here; she's alive; she's well, and it's a great outcome for our family," Bennet told ABC News.

Max, the partially blind and deaf dog, is now being recognized for his good work. The Queensland Police Department declared Max an honorary police dog on Twitter for keeping the missing girl safe and sound. Max really is quite the good boy!

SUCH A GOOD BOY, MAX! He stayed with his 3-year-old human who was lost near Warwick last night while we frantically searched for her. For keeping her safe, you're now an honorary police dog.